Episode- 14

The competition progressed smoothly from then on, and soon the finale of the sports festival, the school-wide relay, was approaching.

　Thanks to Tohsaka's performance in the obstacle course, the White team was able to overtake them, but the gap did not widen.

"So, this means that the overall winner will be decided by the results of the school-wide relay, right?"

"That's right! This is a really crazy development!"

"Plus, the anchor for our group is Prince, right? We definitely won!"

"Once you see that, you can't help but get excited!"

"I mean, there's no way the prince will lose! I'm really looking forward to it!"

　There was an excited atmosphere in the Red Team cheering section, as if the excitement had not yet died down.

　Suddenly I became curious and looked around.

　However, no matter where I looked, I couldn't find the person I was looking for.

"Huh? Where did Tohsaka go?"

"Oh, you're right. That's strange. She was sitting next to me just now..."

"...I see."

　The premonition that had been stuck to my back for a while now was sticking tightly to me and wouldn't let go, so I stood up as if urged.

"What's wrong, Rintaro ? If you don't get a spot quickly, you won't be able to watch the relay from a good spot."

"I'm going to the bathroom for a bit. Use that big body to get some space for me!"

"Hey, what a thing to say!"

　I starts walking away, ignoring Reo's remarks.

　Hopefully, this hunch will turn out to be wrong.

　　　　　♦ ♦ ♦

　jar.

　jar.

　jar.

"... Phew."

　Splashing chemical-tasting tap water in your face.

　As an unpleasant sweat started to flow, I grimaced at the sense of discomfort that I couldn't ignore.

"Tohsaka."

　When someone called out to her, she hurriedly looked up, trying to cover it up.

　but.

"Fujita-kun..."

　When I realized it was him, all the strength naturally went away from my body and I was unable to be my usual self.

　Fujita-kun looks at me intently.

　Those scary eyes seemed to see right through me.

　When I finally looked down at my left leg, my body involuntarily started.

"I thought so. Your leg is injured, right?"

"Huh?! That can't be..."

"I know. You landed in an awkward position, and you were a bit worried about your leg when you were leaving, right?"

　How far is this person looking?

　I tried to brush it off, but realising it was no use to him, I took a deep breath.

"...No one noticed me though. You're good. Maybe you'd be good at being a detective or something?"

"I don't want to investigate adultery or anything like that, so I'll turn it down."

"Fufu, I see."

　I can't help but wish that they would just let it go.

　But he didn't show any signs of weakness and said it smoothly.

"With that speed, it'll be tough for the last relay."

"...That's not true. I can run."

"You're lying. You're just struggling to walk, aren't you?"

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"Seriously, Fujita-kun... are you really my nemesis?"

"I'm on the side of humanity, so that would make Tohsaka an enemy of humanity. Is that okay?"

"That's not good... It's really troubling."

　Her true feelings spill out.

　Even if he looks at me with the right gaze, my mind remains the same.

　I turned off the faucet, which was constantly letting out water, and this time I finally made it and started walking.

"Everyone has high expectations of me, and the third-year students have kindly entrusted me with the role of anchor. I want to live up to those expectations. So I'm going."

"...Tohsaka."

"It's okay. Despite how I look, I'm actually quite athletic. And like you said, I'm a bloody mess."

"…………"

　Fujita doesn't say anything.

　He just looked at me with those honest eyes.

　I felt like my body would burn if he looked at me, so I put on a brave smile as I tried to escape, looked away and passed by Fujita.

　It's okay. I'm sure I'll be okay.

"Go!!!"

"The red team is on a good pace!"

"Run! Run!"

　A constant stream of cheers filled the schoolyard.

　The race is in the final stages.

　I stood in the starting position, waiting for my teammate to hand me the baton as she rounded the corner.

"Huh..."

　My left foot hurts every time I put my foot on the ground.

　However, once you start running, you'll probably not even notice the pain.

　It's okay. It'll be okay.

"Prince!"

"!!!"

　Finally, the baton is passed and the race begins.

　They are almost evenly matched with the White team. There is almost no difference.

"Prince!!!"

"Run!"

"Do your best!!!"

　With the cheers of the crowd behind her, she kicks the ground with force.

"!!!"

　Each time, a pain ran through my left leg, as if I'd been hit with a blunt object.

　It hurts. It hurts. But I still have to run.

　Be the first to reach that finish line, before anyone else!

　Turn the first corner and head into a straight line.

　It's still a draw. I'll take a step forward now...

"Damn it...!!!"

　I can't move my left leg the way I want to.

　I can't kick the ground hard. I can't exert the strength I want to.

"Don't give up!"

"You must win!!!"

"Go Prince!!!"

　I can't lose. I absolutely can't lose.

　I am the representative of our group. That is why I cannot lose!

　I suppress the pain and regain my momentum.

　The distance between us shrinks. Our shoulders stand side by side again.

　Then we rounded the last corner and it was time for the final sprint.

　Take a step forward now and cross that finish line...!

　--but.

"Hmph...!!!!"

　My legs stop moving just before reaching the finish line.

　That moment was not to be missed by the other party.

"Ahhh!!"

　The finish line tape fluttering in front of your eyes.

　My vision blurs and my body cuts through the air.

" ...

　A cheer erupts, enough to shake the ground.

　However, to me, who was inside the crowd, the cheers seemed to come from very far away.

　Yes, that's what I thought.

　The damp May wind is blowing.

　I was sitting alone on a block bathed in a faint shadow.

　The seasonal smells that are unique to this time of year and that vary from person to person tickled my nostrils.

"With this, this year's sports festival will come to an end. All students in charge, please assemble in front of the headquarters tent..."

　As the announcement came from afar, I clenched my fists and stared at the ground, desperately trying to hold back the emotions that were welling up inside me.

　Suddenly, a new shadow appears on the ground.

"Yo"

　When I looked up, Fujita-kun was standing there with the same expression as always.

　He dropped his gaze at me as if he had just happened to spot me after school.

"Why are you here?"

"Don't you know? This is my favorite spot. I sometimes eat my lunch here."

"Oh, that reminds me."

　Now that I think about it, this is the place where I first told Fujita my true feelings.

　It was definitely towards the end of one season.

"So I thought maybe Tohsaka was here too."

"why?"

"That's because no one comes here. And it's right after the sports festival, so it's a completely unexplored place."

　His usual silly remarks.

　Fujita-kun is growing stronger inside me.

　At the same time, my heart sank and I felt pressured from all sides.

　And then, as if being pushed out, the heavy, ugly thing that had settled rises up.

"...I lost."

　Before I knew it, the words I had been about to say were blurted out.

　Then it loses control and runs away as if it has a will of its own.

"Everyone lost because of me. They had high hopes for me, but I couldn't do anything. I wish I could have won in the end."

　Fujita doesn't say anything.

　Just listen to what I have to say.

"It's the worst. I've made so many people sad because of just me. I don't know how to face everyone from now on. I've betrayed everyone's expectations..."

　What had been held back was about to overflow.

　But it's no good. I can't relax. I can't relax.

"So, so I, I...!"

"Hey, Tohsaka."

"Fujita-kun...?"

　Fujita's face took on a gentle expression.

　He wasn't smiling. It wasn't something so simple as that, but something that was seeping out from inside him was floating down to me.

"You say everyone, but who ended up losing that relay?"

"Who is that..."

"Tohsaka herself?"

"…O_O…picture?"

　Suddenly my mind goes blank.

　For a moment I couldn't understand what he was saying, as if it was a different language.

"But isn't that right? Tohsaka's power was matched up with her opponent's power, and that's why she lost. That doesn't include the power of 'everyone' that Tohsaka is talking about."

"H! That's true, but...!"

“Don’t go out of your way to make things more difficult, Tohsaka. You know that, don’t you? — That you’re the one who’s most frustrated.”

　However, he gently and tenderly placed his words on my palm, as if covering me with a warm blanket as I fell asleep.

"B-but!"

"It's impossible for one person to bear everyone's regrets. No matter how tough you are, Tohsaka, humans aren't that strong. So, you only need to bear your own share of regrets."

　Fujita's words became like warm water and seeped into my body.

　Before I knew it, the hot liquid was trickling down.

"I……"

"Besides, Tohsaka. If what you say is true, if Tohsaka had won, then everyone else would have won too--"

"Even if Tohsaka loses alone, it would be weird if we didn't all share the frustration of losing together, right?"

　--At that moment, a definite emotion appeared in my heart.

　Something small, round, and emitting a faint light was just born in my heart.

"Ah, there's Kaori!!"

"Hey you guys! Over here!"

"picture…O_O…?"

　The sound of multiple footsteps echoes.

　A moment later, my classmates came running over to me.

　One after another, the ground where there was only Fujita and I's shadow was gradually filled with the things of various people.

"Koko!!!"

　Aika was the first to hug me.

"Oh come on! Why are you going off on your own? We won't be able to feel sad without Kaori!"

"S-sorry..."

"That's right! The sports festival isn't over yet!"

"Souma, the sports festival is already over."

"It's not over!!!"

"I don't think it's over yet either, Asahi-kun. Why don't we go for round two?"

"Shimoda, you're too sunburned."

　Asahi-kun's retort caused everyone to erupt in laughter.

　Before I knew it, I was surrounded by my classmates, and my tense body gradually relaxed.

"Hey, Tohsaka. Let's just say it out loud for once."

"Eh? But..."

"In fact, please let us out. Otherwise we won't be able to scream either. Right?"

　Fujita's classmates smiled in agreement with his words.

　The black, dull back of the school building was being colored right before my eyes.

　It begins to sparkle as if remembering a spring that has passed.

"Ugh... Really Fujita-kun..."

　I couldn't help but smile.

　My heart felt lighter.

　But still, there is a throbbing pain in the middle of my heart and I feel extremely unsettled.

　That's why, in response to my own request and Fujita's, I took the biggest breath of the day.

　And then――he screamed at the top of his lungs.

"It's so frustrating!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

　My voice rises high into the sky.

　The sky, the color of which seems to have dissolved human kindness, picks up my tiny voice and sends it flying somewhere.

　The seasons changed and the calendar turned to May.

　I say goodbye to spring, which keeps me from going yet, and head towards the next season.

　Ride this comfortable wind.

　　　　　♦ ♦ ♦

　The sports festival is over.

　As if it had been waiting for this, everyday life had taken over our lives as if it owned the place.

"Haha."

　I enter the classroom while stifling a yawn.

　I almost bumped into Tohsaka who was just about to leave the classroom, but managed to stop herself just in time.

"Whoa! It's Fujita-kun."

"What do you mean?"

"What is this?"

　Tohsaka laughs heartily as they exchange meaningless conversation.

"good morning"

"Yeah, good morning."

"How's your leg?"

"I'm in such good shape that I could go into the second round right now."

"Please do so. Take Shimoda with you."

　We both laughed and the conversation ended there, and when I moved away, Tohsaka walked past me with a satisfied look on her face and out into the corridor.

　I aimlessly follow her back.

"...Yeah, she's really cute."

　I muttered to no one in particular, then rolled my cheeks back to normal and stepped into the classroom.

　　　　　♦ ♦ ♦

　I walked down the hallway and suddenly looked back for no apparent reason.

　He was gone, but I still remembered he was there.

　My cheeks involuntarily relaxed, and this time I properly smiled at the revelation.

"I'm really in trouble."

　I muttered and started walking again.

　She walks with a light step.

　Still, I move forward with one new thing.

　While holding it gently and carefully, even though I didn't know the name of this feelings.

　--The enthusiasm is far away, I thinks.